Jie Shanxian had naturally been drawn by the method Chu Feng used to refine that black iron.
Chu Feng had assumed that Jie Shanxian would ask him about that method.
But who would have expected that, rather than asking, Jie Shanxian would simply open her palm to reveal a formation resting within it once Chu Feng looked her way.
Two pills drifted out from the formation.
One floated toward Chu Feng, while she placed the other directly into her own mouth.
Chu Feng could tell that the pills had just been freshly refined.
It was clear that after arriving here, Jie Shanxian's silence had not been due to healing her injuries — she had been focused on refining these two pills within her body.
Chu Feng could also tell that these pills had the effect of concealing one's aura, and their potency was remarkable.
Yet Chu Feng found it puzzling — what was the point of concealing one's aura when it would be far better to conceal one's entire body?
As if sensing Chu Feng's confusion, Jie Shanxian said to him: "The place we're heading is a world ruled by Ancient Clans. This pill will prevent them from determining that we are intruders."
"Once inside, do not reveal your identity. Simply say you are an independent martial cultivator with no sect or faction."
"And don't mention that you're a modern-era cultivator, because in their view, no modern-era cultivator could have gotten in. As long as nothing seems off, they'll assume we're ancient cultivators as well."
As she spoke, Jie Shanxian formed hand seals, and her appearance began to shift — transforming into that of an ordinary middle-aged woman, her figure becoming unremarkable as well.
Clearly, she had no desire to draw attention.
"You have your own methods of disguise, don't you? Would you like my help?" Jie Shanxian asked.
"If Senior could assist me, that would naturally be better," Chu Feng said with a smile.
He did indeed have his own methods of disguise, but when it came down to it, Jie Shanxian was a Heavenly Dragon Spirit World Master — her methods of disguise would naturally be superior.
"Just take this one," Jie Shanxian said, producing another pill and handing it to Chu Feng.
Once the pill entered his body, it transformed into a formation that enveloped Chu Feng entirely, allowing him to alter his appearance at will through sheer thought.
Chu Feng also transformed himself into a very ordinary-looking individual.
After all, the entire purpose of their trip was to avoid drawing anyone's attention.
"Senior, is there anything else I should be aware of?" Chu Feng asked.
"It is an enormous world."
"There are many Ancient Clans within it, numerous factions, as well as martial cultivators who belong to no faction at all."
"However, at the northern and southern extremes of that world, there are each regions that remain sealed off."
"I once questioned the ancient cultivators within that world about what lay within those sealed regions. Although speculation was abundant, no one could provide a definitive answer."
"I have also observed them and discovered that both regions are sealed by powerful barriers."
"The southern barrier is powered by a supreme treasure, while the northern one more closely resembles a formation laid by a Spirit World Master."
"My personal guess is that those two regions are controlled by powerful ancient families."
"The southern one by martial cultivators, and the northern one most likely by Spirit World Masters."
"And the place we're heading is within the northern region."
"As for what we'll be collecting, it is a type of purple poisonous flower."
"The locals call that flower the Purple Dream Ascension."
"It earned that name because of its toxicity — once poisoned, one begins to hallucinate and enters a purple dreamland. They say the dream is wonderfully beautiful, but one's life force drains rapidly until death."
"Because the flower is so deadly, even the locals dare not pick it."
"However, the Purple Dream Ascension actually contains substances valuable for a Spirit World Master's cultivation. I possess a secret technique that can refine those substances."
"But this secret technique requires the power of bloodlines. While I have the technique, my bloodline power naturally cannot compare to yours."
"If I could borrow the power of your bloodline, the refinement would be much faster," Jie Shanxian said.
"Senior, you've entered that world before — have you encountered anyone of extraordinary strength?" Chu Feng asked.
"I have not encountered anyone stronger than myself."
"But since I could not break through those two sealed regions, I cannot say for certain whether the beings within them are ones I could handle."
"According to what you people say, since the opening of the God Era, the Ancient Clans have been continuously reviving."
"So I believe that if my guess is correct, the beings in those two regions have very likely already emerged into the world."
"Although we're not stealing or robbing — we're simply going to refine some poisonous flowers that nobody wants."
"It's still better not to be ostentatious. After all, fewer troubles are better than more," Jie Shanxian cautioned.
"Senior speaks truly," Chu Feng agreed.
"Let's go." As she spoke, Jie Shanxian put away the bamboo boat, then seized Chu Feng and soared downward toward the churning magma below.
With the barrier's power shielding his body, the magma posed no threat to Chu Feng at all. Soon, Jie Shanxian brought him to the very location Chu Feng had previously observed. With ease, Jie Shanxian broke through the tunnel and entered it.
The process went incredibly smoothly. After passing through the barrier tunnel, the two of them were directly transported to the surface.
Standing on the surface and looking up toward the path they had come from, there was no sign of the barrier tunnel — only blue sky and white clouds, as if the tunnel had never existed at all.
And the formation world they now stood in was not only incredibly realistic, but vast and boundless.